Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 527: To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Limerick qualifies to have the remainder of their treatment through the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32210/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard I have established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which will work to unblock access to acute services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including referrals from GPs. The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies - mainly the HSE and the NTPF.

As a priority, public hospitals have been instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they have no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. Where they fail to do so, the NTPF will source the necessary treatments elsewhere and an appropriate budgetary adjustment will be made.

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and facility involved.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 528: To ask the Minister for Health the changes that have recently been introduced to the National Treatment Purchase Fund; the reasons and implications for these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32223/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Immediately following my appointment as Minister for Health I set about establishing the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system. The SDU is a vital "agent for change" allowing for a transformation in the operation of structures across the system. Its establishment necessitates alterations in the current role of the NTPF whose resources will be re-focused to align closely with the work of the SDU, and crucially will allow for a progressive improvement in the performance of the nation's hospitals.The NTPF has welcomed the new initiative and is proactively working with the SDU and the HSE to achieve the best possible results for patients.